2025 started celebrating the Girls in Afrobeats Ambassadors of Influence Dinner. The event, which took place at EKO restaurant in London, gathered 24 women working across the UK Afrobeats scene. It was a celebration of legacy vibe, legacy, and influence, as a number of women behind the scenes in the space celebrated their achievements and contributions to the genre not just in the UK but internationally.
The dinner, hosted by Stephanie Adamu, the founder of Girls Afrobeats, sponsored by Hennesy UK, EKO Bar and Grill, and Deeds Magazine, highlighted the significant moments and achievements of the past year in the Afrobeats industry. These moments, which included the release of Amazon Prime’s Water & Garri, starring and executive produced by Tiwa Savage, and the release of Born in The Wild, the debut album by Tems, the highest charting album by a Nigerian Female artist, are just a few examples of the incredible progress and success in the industry. Ayra Starr, the most streamed female artist in Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya, is another shining example. These accomplishments are a source of pride and inspiration for all women in the Afrobeats scene.
The dinner attendees were a diverse group, each contributing to the genre's success in their own unique way. From Marketing Managers, Stylists, Tour Managers, Executives, Artists, Content creators, Strategists, Event Managers, Photographers, Radio presenters, Journalists and more, every role was represented. The primary purpose of the dinner was to shine a light on these women, to bring them together to celebrate their flowers and pay their respects to all the work they do within the genre. It was a moment to share their achievements and look forward to the coming year, fostering community and inclusivity.
Speaking about the concept of the dinner and putting it together, she said, “I put this event together because it is 2025, and I wanted to celebrate the women that I’ve worked with connected with in Afrobeats that are doing amazing, and they don't get any recognition and I just felt that its time to shed light on you and I feel like 2025 is the time to shine the light on all the women everybody deserves their accolades and know that we are for them and we appreciate all the work they have done.”
The sentiment and intention of the evening, filled with celebration, networking, and connection, was clear as we look forward, 2025 promises to be another fantastic year for all the Girls in Afrobeats. With the momentum and achievements of the past year, we can't help but feel hopeful and excited about the future of the genre.
